The effect of sleep duration on food and drink choices in students aged 18-25; a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Background – The Welsh Health Survey found around 3 in 5 adults in Wales are overweight, putting
strain on the National Health Service. Many factors contribute to obesity, however, less literature
exists for the effect sleep has on high fat and sugar foods (major contributors to modern obesity),
particularly in students, where new independence and freedom often results in poor dietary and
sleeping habits.
Methods – In this cross-sectional study, an adapted EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire
(including a sleep survey) was distributed to 19 females and 9 males from Cardiff Metropolitan
University, aged 18 to 25, through opportunistic sampling. Food and drink choices were analysed in
relation to their sleep duration.
Results – Students who frequently slept for less than 7 hours per night reported consuming more
foods high in saturated fat and sugar in a week. They also reported consuming more added sugar and
soft drinks. This contrasted greatly to the students who frequently slept for more than 8 hours every
night, who made unhealthy food and drink choices far less frequently over the week.
Conclusions – In students sleeping below the recommended sleep duration, more obesogenic food
and drink behaviours were observed, suggesting there is a relationship between the two variables.
However, due to the cross-sectional nature of the investigation, a cause and effect relationship cannot
be determined, calling for further research in this area to identify such a relationship.
Keywords: Students, Health, Nutrition, Sleep
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